13-Year-Old Girl Raped by School Teacher in Chhattisgarh, Forced to Undergo Abortion

Jashpur: A government school teacher in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district allegedly raped a 13-year-old student following which she became pregnant, a police official said on Sunday.

The accused, Rashid Anwar Khan, also allegedly forced the girl to undergo an abortion at a private hospital with the help of his associate, he said.

Khan, who worked at a government school located at a village in the district, is still at large while his associate Sukhlal was arrested on Friday, the official said.

The teacher and four other school staff members, including the headmaster, have been suspended while action has also been taken against three education department officials for alleged negligence of duty, another official said.

As per the preliminary investigation, the Class 7 student was raped in the school premises two months ago. The accused also threatened the girl with dire consequences if she informed about the offence to anyone, the police official said.

The girl recently complained of some health issues following which her parents took her to a hospital where doctors found that she was pregnant, he said.

When the accused came to know about the girl's pregnancy, he took her to a private hospital on February 22 and allegedly forced her to undergo abortion with the help of Sukhlal, he said.

The girl's parents approached the police on Friday following which a case was registered against the accused under IPC Sections 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), 313 (causing miscarriage without woman's consent), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

A search was on for the teacher, the official said, adding that a probe was also underway into the role of the hospital where the abortion was done.

Taking serious note of the incident, Jashpur Collector Nilesh Mahadev Kshirsagar has suspended the teacher and four other school staff members, including the headmaster, a government official said.

"After the incident came to light, the accused teacher was suspended. The school's headmaster, two other teachers and

a peon was also placed under suspension for alleged negligence in duty," he said.

Besides, block resource coordinator Vipin Kumar Ambasht has been dismissed from service, cluster resource coordinator Raghvendra Chauhan has been suspended while block education officer PK Bhatnagar has been transferred, he said.